I would have notched the sill and installed the tile behind instead of notching the tile. That looks nasty. Always caulk at a plane change, not grout.

No, you are not being picky. Did this person even use spacers?

Can't they see what a beautiful kitchen you just installed? That is so ridiculous. Who would do something like that? I swear some of these guys are jealous. They need to go find something else to do for a living.

No, he did not use spacers. In fact, the man who did the floor (a different company) didn't either. The floor man told me, that's for amateurs. Being that he has been in the biz many years, I said, shut up Mary! I sent the company that did the backsplash, a long text outlining the problems and concerns I had. I told him I was not happy at all. This was on Saturday morning. A few hours later I received a text saying I am not in town, I will text later. That's it! And he never did call or text back. So on Sunday, I stopped payment on the check from my phone app. All I need was some type of -- "I see what you are saying, when I return I will address these issues". NOTHING. So now, I have to hire someone else to fix this. It is awful, yes? Hubby thinks I am being OCD. Thanks to all.

Your dh looks at that and thinks you are being OCD? That is truly astonishing anyone on the planet could think that.

Plus, I am on the phone with the bank and they cleared the check I stopped. I give up.

Spacing looks ok, not sure about flatness, seems ok from the pics. They need to clean up their grout mess on the finished edges and caulk around the window and countertop. As Joe mentioned they should have installed the tile behind the sill but it is manageable they just shouldnt have grouted it. Also need to finish the top edge properly.

Whatever grout they used there should be a caulk available that matches, sanded or unsanded depending on what matches.

Vith, are you wearing your glasses? I could kick a fieldgoal through that spacing.

LOL, kick a fieldgoal! Guys, I don't know technically what is wrong or right. I know I don't like the way the following areas look: The sill, the area with the big splotch and a nail. The area with the splotch that is tiled beyond the cabinet line, the grout lines that should be caulk lines and much thinner. DH called this dude and he says he's coming back on 6/9, after work to take a look. He didn't see it when he did the work? I'm so confused.

Vith, should the grout line between the tile and granite be replaced with white caulk?

No white caulk! (And they will do that!) Color match the grout. ColorRite can provide a good match. When the stuff is chipped out, collect a piece and send it off to them. The manufacturer likely has a product but it may not match as the pigments might be off to begin with due to different color lots or the grout mixing and application has altered the color.

How difficult is it to chip out the grout? If this guy doesn't show up on 6/9, should I start myself? Most likely I won't be able to look at it and do nothing for another 8 days. Maybe a little chisel or a dremel tool? I think I may have one.

Ok, millworkman, thank you.

"Should the grout line between the tile and granite be replaced with white caulk?"

You always caulk at a plane change, never grout. Grout has no flexibility. It looks fine now, but you're going to get a hairline crack. Not a nice big fat crack that you could stuff more grout into, no, a hairline that will only accept crud and become more noticeable. Caulk flexes; no cracks.

I agree with snookums2. This guy needs to find another line of work. If you can't do a professional looking job, you don't have any business doing work in people's homes for a paycheck. You guys are worried about grout vs. caulk at a change of plane? What about the rest of it? Did he bring his two-year old with him and instruct the baby to finish off the edges? It sure looks like it! And look at the mess he made between the tile and the window casing! I don't care if he did a perfect job with the spacing, the rest of it trumps anything good that he might have done. Regardless, this twit is clueless when it comes to aesthetics and common sense. Just flat out sloppy work. Pathetic. Seriously. I'd sure think twice before I turned him loose with a tube of caulk!

Yea, that might be the next disaster honestly. Probably would use construction adhesive. Lawls.

So a tile man came out and had a lot to say but offered no fixes except remove and start over. The problem with that is the granite doesn't fit snug to the wall and many of the problems I have now will be the same. So, my only option that will look half way decent is to put in a bead board back splash. Nothing else I can think of as a remedy. Does anyone have an idea?

Mary Therese:

When the counter doesn't come to the wall, you bring the wall to the counter. Your tile man should have known that.

Hello everyone, I have some ideas and questions I'm hoping someone might be able to comment on. We have decided to remove the tile. The installer is gone and we cannot get a hold of him. I can't blame him totally as the problems originate from the floor install not being level. These are my thoughts. The bottom cabinets must be off as well as the floor. In order to fix that we'd have to use shims to raise the cabinet base where the tiles slant downward horizontally. Then we have the issue of the granite not meeting the wall evenly. I hope I'm making sense because I know I'm not good at explaining. Anyhoo, unless the cabinet base can be raised, no matter what tile is put in, it's going to meet that one corner on a downward slant. (I think.) So, I'm wondering, is there some kind of material we could use that won't show the crooked walls/cabinets/tile line? As a last resort, I even thought to use bead board to cover it all up. This has not been an easy decision. I have been agonizing over this. Thanks in advance. Mary & Jeff

I just had an idea...what do you think of this product? Would this show the irregularities of my walls? [https://www.houzz.com/products/12x12-mixed-quartz-mosaic-tile-prvw-vr~7777080  [(https://www.houzz.com/products/12x12-mixed-quartz-mosaic-tile-prvw-vr~7777080)

https://www.houzz.com/products/12x12-sliced-interlocking-pebble-tile-black-white-and-tan-prvw-vr~15113868

Mary and Jeff:

You've got a do-over. Remove the tile and tops and reset the cabinets level and plumb. Everything from that point will be right. Yeah, it's a few days work and expense, but you're going to be staring at this a very long time and in that context, it's nothing. Don't go into denial. You will not regret this, I promise.

Remove the tops? Do you mean the granite? I don't know if we can.

Sure you can. Cut the sealant with a Japanese pull saw and drive wood shims underneath evenly until they pop.